Mr Najib vowed not to give in to unnamed “traitors” seeking his removal, as he addressed the annual assembly of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the most closely watched in years due to the current tumult.
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Najib was interviewed by Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the weekend despite the agency supporting his claim that the money came as a donation from an unidentified donor in the Middle East, and not from 1MDB.
Najib has fired several high-ranking officials from his government who have demanded his resignation, including UMNO vice president Muhyiddin Yassin, who was sacked in August from his post as deputy prime minister.
“It has dropped. When I go down to the ground, there are many people whose support has decreased, in terms of their views”, Shafie told a joint interview with several news organisations in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, ahead of the Umno assembly, which began Wednesday with the Youth, Wanita and Puteri Wings meeting.
The scandals have rocked public confidence in the coalition led by UMNO, which has held power since independence in 1957 but has seen its support slip to all-time lows.
Muhyiddin was axed as deputy prime minister from the Cabinet in July over his open criticism of Najib, but remains the Umno deputy president.
Najib and the company, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), both vehemently deny any wrongdoing, but opponents say Najib has moved to silence critics and has abused his office to hobble investigations and stay in power.
“Though Najib has shown that he can fight if needed, he has also shown that he prefers not to fight if it would hurt the party”, he said.
Mr Najib, 62, made only passing reference to the affair in his speech, saying he had briefed party leaders on the matter.
Since the election, scores of opposition politicians and other government critics have been targeted with accusations of sedition and other charges.
“Wait for a statement from the party’s highest leadership”, the statement by Hadi’s political secretary, Dr Ahmad Samsury Mokhtar, said.
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“In this context, it is unimaginable if the government had not had the political bravery to implement the GST”, Najib said, according to Reuters.
